Universal sheet lifter

ABSTRACT

A sheet lifting device for looseleaf ring binders with any number of rings or ring spacing. The lifter has two parts each with a single aperture for receiving a binder ring and flexibly interconnected across the ring to maintain an alignment while permitting pivoting with covers of the binder. Inclined surfaces on the two parts engage portions of sheets carried by the rings and move the sheets about the ring when the binder covers are closed.

United States Patent 3,493,310 2/1970 Orth et a1 3,019,486

Inventor Lewis R. Beyer 1255 West River Road, Valley City,-Ohio 44280 Aple No. 752,861 Filed Aug. 15, 1968 Patented July 6, 1971 UNIVERSALSHEET LIFTER 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs. 1

US. Cl 402/80 A,

402/24 Int. Cl B421 13/16 Field of Search 402/80, 24, 31,37;281/31.5

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1962 Stinson 3,087,498 4/1963Vogei Q. 281/375 UX 2,035,284 3/1936 Trussell 402/80 (L) X 2,090,2318/1937 Raynoids... 402/80 (L) X 3,165,337 1/1965 Leibowitz 281/34 I3,366,] 18 1/1968 Beyer 402/80 (L) FOREIGN PATENTS 82,640 2/1964 France402/80 (L) Primary Examiner-Jerome Schnall Attorney-Watts, Hofimann,Fisher and Heinke ABSTRACT: A sheet lifting device for looseleaf ringbinders with any number of rings or ring spacing. The lifter has twoparts each with a single aperture for receiving a binder ring andflexibly interconnected across the ring to maintain an alignment whilepermitting pivoting with covers of the binder.

lnclined surfaces on the two parts engage portions of sheets carried bythe rings and move the sheets about the ring when the binder covers areclosed.

PATENTEDJUL BIB?! 3.591.300

SHEET 2 0r 2 Fig. 6

INVENTOK LEW/5 I? 557 5? BY g MM 6 M ATTORNEYS.

UNIVERSAL SHEET LIFTER This invention relates to sheet lifters orfollowers which are used to facilitate the closing of looseleaf binders.

Looseleaf binders are manufactured and used in a variety of styles andsizes. These styles and sizes vary in ring diameter, ring spacing and/orthe number of rings used.

Typically, in looseleaf binders, a sheet lifter is secured to the ringsof the binder adjacent each cover. The sheets held by the binder ringsare positioned between the two sheet lifters. The function of the sheetlifters is to help move the sheets along the rings when the covers of anopen binder are closed. This prevents the sheets from being caught atthe base of the rings, between the rings and the covers, which tears theapertures of the sheets and makes it difficult to close the covers.

Whilesheet lifters for standard two and three ring binders are standarditems carried by stationery suppliers, binders with a greater number ofrings or with other than the standard ring spacing require custom madelifters. These lifters are made in smaller quantities than lifters forstandard binders and are therefore more expensive and replacements areoften unavailable. Moreover, while certain improved features have beendeveloped in connection with the construction of sheet lifters (see, forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 3,366,1l8 issued Jan. 30, 1968 to Lewis R. Beyer,and entitled Sheet Lifter), these improved features are typicallyavailable only on sheet lifters for standard 2 and 3 ring binders whererelatively high production justifies the high initial equipment costsnecessary for manufacture. For example, improved lifters of the typedisclosed in the aforementioned patent are preferably formed of plasticby injection molding techniques, which require relatively expensivedies. Custom made lifters, therefore, are usually limited to the flat,cardboard-type lifter that can be individually cut to length and punchedto accommodate the desired spacing and number of binder rings. Flatlifters do not function in a satisfactory manner at best, and the largernumber of closely spaced rings typical of special binders make it allthe more difficult to close the covers of the binder. Even for standardbinders, the need for different sheet lifters for the twoand three-ringbinders requires separate manufacture, handling, and larger inventories.

The present invention overcomes the above problems by providing auniversal lifter, that is, a lifter that is usable with looseleaf ringbinders having any number of rings or any spacing, and that can beconstructed for use with rings of any diameter. The preferred sheetlifter device of the present invention incorporates inclined surfaces toeffectively slide the sheets carried by the rings of the binder upwardalong the sheet lifter and about the rings as the covers of the binderare closed, so that resistance to closing of the covers and pinching ortearing of the sheets is avoided.

Briefly, the universal sheet lifting device of the present invention iscomprised of two sheet lifter parts that are relatively small and aresecured to a single ring of a binder rather than extending along abinder in the conventional manner. The two parts are aligned with eachother across a single ring and across the ring back of the binder, onepart being adjacent each cover of the looseleaf binder. Each part iscomprised ofa flat body portion with an upwardly offset back portion. Anaperture in each part is provided adjacent the back portion to receivethe ring of a binder. The aperture is elongated toward the front of theassociated part to permit pivoting of the part with the cover. Agradually inclined surface extends upward and rearward from the flatbody portion of each part toward the back portion preferably adjacentthe aperture, and serves toeffectively slide sheets outward along thelifter and about the rings when the lifter is pivoted during the closingof the binder cover. The two parts of the sheet lifting device areconnected together at back portions in a manner that prevents the twoparts from pivoting out of alignment with each other across the ring,i.e., from pivoting about the ring in the plane of the lifter or cover,but which permits pivoting about axes parallel to the cover hinges.Typically, two such sheet lifting devices are used on two-spaced rings,one adjacent each opposite end of a looseleaf binder. In the case ofrelatively small binders, a single such device used on a ring in themiddle of the binder is adequate. Different ring diameters are accommodated by an expandable connection between the two parts that permitsthe distance between the back edges of the parts to be varied.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a sheet lifterthat can be used with ring binders having essentially any number ofrings and any ring spacing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lifter with two partsadapted to associate with opposite covers of a ring binder, and which issecured in use to a single ring ofa binder and in which the two partswill pivot with the associated binder covers but will remain alignedwith each other across the ring back.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lifter with two sheetlifter parts flexibly interconnected so as to extend across a ring of aring binder, the flexible interconnection being constructed so that thespace between the two parts can be varied to accommodate differentdiameter rings.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lifter, as describedabove, that has inclined surfaces to effectively lift sheets when thetwo parts are pivoted with the covers of a binder.

These and other objects, as well as the various features and advantagesof this invention, will become better understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet lifter embodying the presentinvention, shown associated with a ring of a looseleaf ring binder;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the sheet lifter and ring binder ofFIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the sheet lifter and ring binder ofFIG. 2, showing the relationship of the parts with the ring binder in aclosed position;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view similar to FIG. 2 showing the sheetlifter of FIG. 2 with a ring binder having rings of larger diameter;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view similar to FIG. 2, showing a sheetlifter of a modified construction; and

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view similar to FIG. 5 showing anothermodified construction of a sheet lifter embodying the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, in particular to FIG. 1, a preferredembodiment of the sheet liftezr of this invention is indicated generallyby the reference numeral 10 and is shown in operative association with aring 112 of a looseleaf binder 14. The binder 14 is conventional andincludes a backing or spine 15 to which two cover leaves I6, 17 arehinged as at 18, 19. The binder includes two or more rings 12, only oneof which is shown, and each of which comprises two arcuate segments withuppermost portions that mate when the rings are in closed position. Thelowermost portions of the rings are connected to a spring mechanism (notshown) to provide the conventional snap-action ring operation. Thespring mechanism is housed by longitudinal cover plate 20 securelyattached to the inside surface of the binder backing IS. The cover plate20 has an outer surface 21 through which the binder rings 12 project.For illustrative purposes, loose sheets typically carried by the rings12 in the binder M have been omitted from FIG. 1, but are shown in FIGS.2 and 3. The sheets. S are typically paper, and include holes throughwhich the binder rings extend.

Typically, with a binder having a center ring (e.g., a threering binder)a single lifting device is associated with the binder on the centerring. In other binders without a central ring, such a two-ring binder,two lifting devices are used on rings adjacent opposite ends of thebinder to assure a balanced lifting force on the sheets. As shown inFIG. 2, when the looseleaf binder I4 is open, the sheet lifting device10 extends outward in opposite directions from the binder backing l5 andcover plate 20 of the ring assembly, along the inside surface of thecovers l6, l7, beneath the sheets S of paper. As shown in FIG.

3, when the looseleaf binder 14 is closed, the sheet lifters rest on thecover plate 20 and extend upward along the covers l6, 17, with thesheets S moved to an upper position on the rings 12.

The lifter is a unitary device, preferably molded of plastic, such aspolypropylene, linear polyethylene, or the like that will form arelatively stiff sheet lifter but which is flexible and tough if thin sothat integral hinged portions that will withstand repeated flexing canbe provided by forming grooves in the material. The lifter 10 includestwo parts 26, 28 of identical construction secured by an integralconnector 29. Because the two parts 26, 28 are identical, only part 26will be described in detail. Corresponding portions of part 28 will beidentified by similar reference numerals, with a prime designation.

The sheet lifter part 26 includes a flat, bladelike body portion 30 witha front edge 32, a back edge 34, a top surface 36 and a bottom surface38. The thickness, of the front edge 32 is tapered upwardly andoutwardly as best shown in FIG. 2. In the preferred embodiment, thefront and back edges are parallel.

The body port-ion 30 includes a front part 30a that contacts the coverof the looseleaf ring binder with which the lifting device is used, hasa back part 30b.narrower than the front part to accommodate its use witha binder in which the rings are relatively closely spaced, and thenarrower back part 30]) includes an upwardly inclined terminal portion30c so that the back edge 34 is upwardly offset from the flat bodyportion comprised of parts 30a, 30b. Preferably, the inclined portion30c extends at an obtuse angle from the flat part 30b. The substantialwidth of the front edge 32 tends to either position the lifter, ormaintain the lifter already positioned, with the front edge parallel tothe binder cover hinges as soon as pivoting forces are applied to thelifter by the cover. This is because the forces are applied primarilyagainst the front edge and are equalized across the width when the edgeis parallel to the binder hinge.

A single aperture 40 is formed in the body portion 30 and is containedpartially in the inclined portion 300 and is elongated along the flatbody portion 30b in a direction toward the front edge 32. The aperture40 is wide enough to receive a ring 12 of the binder and is elongatedbetween a back edge 46 and a front edge 47 a distance sufficient topermit the sheet lifter part 26 to pivot with the adjacent cover of thebinder to a closed position, without necessitating travel of the lifterabout the binder ring. See FIG. 3.

Narrow tracks 42, 43 extend upward from the top surface 36 of the sheetlifter part 26 along opposite sides of the elongated aperture 40. Eachtrack 42, 43 has an upper inclined surface 44, 45, respectively, thatextend from the flat body portion 30b to the upwardly inclined portion300 and which terminate adjacent the upper back edge 34. In thepreferred embodiment shown, the lower forward edge of each inclinedsurface 44, 45 is located slightly to the rear of the front edge 47 ofthe elongated aperture 40. A continuation 48,49 of each track 42, 43,respectively, extends from the end of the inclined surfaces 44, 45toward the front edge 32 of the body portion 30 and projects a slightdistance above the top surface 36. The continuations 48, 49 are optionaland serve only as stiffening elements.

The connector 29 between the two parts 26, 28 of the lifter 10joins thetwo back edges 34, 34'. The connector 29 is flexible in a direction thatpermits pivoting of the two parts 26, 28 with the covers of a Iooseleafbinder and is relatively stiff in a transverse direction to inhibitpivoting of the two parts in the planes of the flat body portions 30,30' so that the two parts remain aligned across the backing 15, inproper relationship with the associated ring 12 to pivot with the bindercovers. To provide the above features, the connector 29 isadvantageously formed ofa thin, relatively wide, ribbon of suitablelength to permit the parts 26, 28 to be spaced across the back and to belocated one on each side of the associated ring 12. The ribbonlikeconnector 29 preferably has a hinged connection to the parts 26, 28formed by a score line or groove 52, 52' at thejuncture with each backedge 34, 34, to assure flexibility about axes parallel to the hinges l8,19 of the binder 14. The substantial width of the ribbonlike connector29 makes it difficult for the parts to pivot about the ring in the planeof the flat body portions 30.

If the sheet lifting device is to be used for a particular ring size,the length of the connector 29 can be selected to accommodate theparticular ring diameter. Such a construction is shown at 10a in FIG. 6,in which a connector 29a is provided that is relatively flat or straightand which locates the inner ends of the two parts 26, 28 in properlocation for a particular ring diameter. The connector is hinged to theparts 26, 28 at score lines or grooves 52a, 52a. For a completelyuniversal sheet lifting device that can be used not only with binders ofdifferent ring spacing and ring number, but also with binders ofdifferent diameter rings, the connector 29 is provided of sufficientlength to permit the inner edges 34, 34' of the lifter parts 26, 28 tobe spaced sufficient to accommodate the largest diameter rings inpopular demand. The connector constructions shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 willaccommodate varying ring diameters. Preferably, the connectors areconstructed to be above the back edges 34, 34' of the lifter parts, asshown in FIGS. 2 and 5, so that the back edges will be located againstthe cover plate 20 of the ring binder when the covers are I closed, asshown in FIG. 3. This maximizes the ring space available for sheets S.

A preferred construction shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 utilizes an accordionpleated ribbonlike connector 29 to provide maximum expansion for largediameter rings while maintaining the connector compact so that it willfit within small diameter rings, without interfering with the inneredges ofsheets carried by the rings or with the rings themselves. Theconnector 29 is initially molded or otherwise formed to a compactcondition as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and can be stretched to an expandedcondition for use with large rings. Hinges formed by score lines orgrooves 54 between flat sections 55 of the pleated connector 29facilitate expansion. FIG. 4 illustrates the lifter 10 of FIG. 2associated with a ring 12 of larger diameter than the ring 12, andillustrates the manner in which the ribbonlike accordion pleatedconnector 29 expands to accommodate the larger ring diameter. A sheetlifter 10b is shown in FIG. 5 with a curved connector 29b ofsufficiently small radius to provide adequate sheet space within ringsof relatively small diameters while allowing for limited expansion toaccommodate larger diameter rings. The connector 29b is hinged to theparts 26, 28 at score lines or grooves 52b, 52b.

The connectors 29, 29b are preformed to a compact configuration suitablefor use with small rings, such as the standard size rings of 1 inchdiameter, and are stretched when used to the greater spacing requiredfor larger diameter rings, as shown in FIG. 4. The expandable connectorsneed not be resilient, since the sheet lifters are typically used withthe same binder, once installed, and need not return to a compactconfiguration.

In operation, the purpose of the sheet lifting device is to lift theinner edges of the sheets of paper in a looseleaf binder from a positionadjacent the bottom of the binder rings, as shown in FIG. 2, to aposition adjacent the upper central portion of the rings, as shown inFIG. 3, when the binder covers are closed. When the two parts 26, 28 ofthe lifter 10 are pivoted from a flat, open, position as shown in FIGS.1 and 2 to an upright closed position as shown in FIG. 3, the front edge32 of each slides along the inner surface of the associated cover leafof the binder and each part 26, 28 pivots relative to the ring 12,adjacent the back edge 34, 34'. The back edges 34, 34' move slightlydownward during this pivoting and as the relatively flat body portions30a, 30b swing upward toward the vertical, the ring 12 partially extendsthrough the elongated apertures 40. Preferably, the front edge 47 of theaperture 40 is spaced a sufficient distance from the back edge 46 of theaperture so that it does not contact the outer surface of the ring 12and limit the pivoting. Typically, the back edge 46 of the elongatedaperture in the inclined portion 30c will contact the inside surface ofthe ring 12. As long as the front edge of the aperture does not contactthe ring 12, there is no tendency for the sheet lifter to travel aboutthe ring to a higher position.

As each part 26, 28 of the lifter is pivoted upward, a camming action ofthe upper inclined surfaces 44, 45 of the narrow tracks 42, 43 onopposite sides of the aperture 40 against lower portions of the sheets Smoves the sheets outward relative to the sheet lifter and about the ring12 away from the back edge 34 of the associated sheet lifter. Thisprevents the sheets from being pinched or caught between the curvatureof the ring 12 and the flat body portion 30 of the lifter. At all timesduring the pivoting of the two parts 26, 28 of the lifter 10, they aremaintained in proper alignment across the ring binder by the connector29 so that they properly pivot with the covers of the binder.

It will be readily apparent that the sheet lifter device 10 is installedby opening the ring 12 with which it is to be used and inserting eachspaced end of the open ring into an aperture 40, 40' with the connector29 between the spaced ends of the ring. Sheets S are then placed on thering and the ring is closed. With large diameter rings, the accordionpleated spacer 29 or the curved spacer 29b is expanded duringinstallation to accommodate the greater distance across the ring so thatthe back edges 34, 34 are adequately spaced to lie adjacent the lowerinner portions of the ring 12 rather than more centrally, where theeffective length of the apertures 40, 40 would be shortened.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described withparticularity, it will be readily appreciated that various modificationsand alterations can be made therein without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims. Forexample, while narrow tracks 42, 43 have been provided and areadvantageous from the standpoint of reducing the friction between theinclined surfaces 44, 45 and the sheets S, the tracks need not benarrow. In fact, the body of the sheet lifter itself may be formedessentially of two planar members, one corresponding to the flat bodyportion 300 and the other extending therefrom at an obtuse anglecorresponding with the upper inclined surfaces 44,45 of the tracks 42,43. The aperture 40 can be formed directly in this inclined surface.Moreover, while it is advantageous to locate the inclined surfaces 44,45 adjacent the aperture 40, so that they act on the sheets directly onopposite sides of each ring, a single track 42 or 43 at each ring isgenerally sufficient and if desired the camming surface could be spacedsomewhat from the aperture. lt mustalso be recognized, that while thepreferred inclined surfaces 44, 45 are straight, a surface slightlyconcave or slightly convex will also function in a similar manner toaccomplish substantially the same result. The straight surface ispreferred because a convex surface occupies more space between the ringswhen the notebook is closed and a concave surface does not move thesheets as effectively as the distance increases from the inner sheetedges to the back edge of the sheet lifter part. It will also beapparent that the particular shape of the flat portion of the lifterparts, especially the portions: 30a, 3011 may be varied from that shown,but a substantial width of the front edge portion 30a, somewhat widerthan the back portion 30b, is desirable to help keep the lifter alignedacross the binder. The back portions 30b and 30c should be wide enoughfor adequate strength, but otherwise must be sufficiently narrow to fitbetween the closest rings of looseleaf binders with which the lifter isto be used. Rigidity of the narrow back portion 30b is enhanced by thepreferred construction in which the inclined surfaces are provided bytracks perpendicular to the flat surface, which increase the sectionmodulus.

lclaim:

1. A sheet lifter device for use with a looseleaf ring binder andadapted to be secured in the binder only by a ring of the binder thatextends through apertures of the device, said device comprising:

a. two similar sheet lifter portions, each having 1. a substantiallyflat portion, for contacting covers of a looseleaf ring binder, whichhas a peripheral edge portion that forms a front edge ofthe lifterportion,

2. a back edge offset from the flat portion in an upward direction, whenthe flat portion is horizontal, forming the highest part of theassociated lifter portion and spaced from but adjacent to the back edgeof said other sheet lifter portion,

. an inclined portion adjacent :said back edge, extending at an obtuseangle from said flat portion in a rearward and upward direction, andadapted to engage sheets carried by a ring with which the device isassociated, and

. only a single aperture located adjacent said back edge and inclinedportion and elongated in a direction toward said front edge forreceiving a ring of a looseleaf binder, said single aperture of eachsaid sheet lifter portion serving with the ring of a binder as the onlymeans by which said device is secured to a binder,

a connector strip between and secured only to said back edges to inhibitswinging of said sheet lifter portions in the plane or planes of saidsubstantially flat portions about a ring received in said apertures,

. two spaced, parallel, hinge lines, each in said connector strip at theback edge of a different one of the two sheet lifter portions, saidhinge lines being thinner than the part of the connector strip and sheetlifter portions immediately adjacent thereto and providing localizedflexibility permitting the sheet lifter parts to pivot about separateaxes along the hinge lines, and

d. said connector strip and sheet lifter portions being of one pieceplastic construction.

2. A sheet lifting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the connectorstrip is flexible in areas between as well as adjacent the back edges ofthe sheet lifter portions and has a length greater than thestraight-line distance between said two sheet lifter portions, to permitvarying the distance between said back edges.

1. A sheet lifter device for use with a looseleaf ring binder andadapted to be secured in the binder only by a ring of the binder thatextends through apertures of the device, said device comprising: a. twosimilar sheet lifter portions, each having
 1. a substantially flatportion, for contacting covers of a looseleaf ring binder, which has aperipheral edge portion that forms a front edge of the lifter portion,2. a back edge offset from the flat portion in an upward direction, whenthe flat portion is horizontal, forming the highest part of theassociated lifter portion and spaced from but adjacent to the back edgeof said other sheet lifter portion,
 3. an inclined portion adjacent saidback edge, extending at an obtuse angle from said flat portion in arearward and upward direction, and adapted to engage sheets carried by aring with which the device is associated, and
 4. only a single aperturelocated adjacent said back edge and inclined portion and elongated in adirection toward said front edge for receiving a ring of a looseleafbinder, said single aperture of each said sheet lifter portion servingwith the ring of a binder as the only means by which said device issecured to a binder, b. a connector strip between and secured only tosaid back edges to inhibit swinging of said sheet lifter portions in thepLane or planes of said substantially flat portions about a ringreceived in said apertures, c. two spaced, parallel, hinge lines, eachin said connector strip at the back edge of a different one of the twosheet lifter portions, said hinge lines being thinner than the part ofthe connector strip and sheet lifter portions immediately adjacentthereto and providing localized flexibility permitting the sheet lifterparts to pivot about separate axes along the hinge lines, and d. saidconnector strip and sheet lifter portions being of one piece plasticconstruction.
 2. a back edge offset from the flat portion in an upwarddirection, when the flat portion is horizontal, forming the highest partof the associated lifter portion and spaced from but adjacent to theback edge of said other sheet lifter portion,
 2. A sheet lifting deviceas set forth in claim 1, wherein the connector strip is flexible inareas between as well as adjacent the back edges of the sheet lifterportions and has a length greater than the straight-line distancebetween said two sheet lifter portions, to permit varying the distancebetween said back edges.
 3. an inclined portion adjacent said back edge,extending at an obtuse angle from said flat portion in a rearward andupward direction, and adapted to engage sheets carried by a ring withwhich the device is associated, and
 4. only a single aperture locatedadjacent said back edge and inclined portion and elongated in adirection toward said front edge for receiving a ring of a looseleafbinder, said single aperture of each said sheet lifter portion servingwith the ring of a binder as the only means by which said device issecured to a binder, b. a connector strip between and secured only tosaid back edges to inhibit swinging of said sheet lifter portions in thepLane or planes of said substantially flat portions about a ringreceived in said apertures, c. two spaced, parallel, hinge lines, eachin said connector strip at the back edge of a different one of the twosheet lifter portions, said hinge lines being thinner than the part ofthe connector strip and sheet lifter portions immediately adjacentthereto and providing localized flexibility permitting the sheet lifterparts to pivot about separate axes along the hinge lines, and d. saidconnector strip and sheet lifter portions being of one piece plasticconstruction.